Sectarian violence erupted in the Moluccas on May 16, leaving at least 23 people dead and over 60 people injured.

Tensions in the area have been growing following the arrival of more than 1000 jihad warriors in the Moluccas. Reports also suggest that a cargo vessel, suspected of carrying containers of weapons, arrived in Ambon this week.

A hit and run incident sparked off localised fighting on the border of BatuMerah (Muslim) and Mardika (Christian) areas on Tuesday night.

Christian sources in Ambon reported how fighting between two district in Ambon city quickly escalated to other areas.

Three truckloads of Muslim rioters were reportedly brought in from Galunggung and released to attack other Christian locations. The rioters burned areas surrounding Hotel Ambon Manise and the Protestant Silo Church. 22 foreign visitors (including two British reporters) were reportedly evacuated to safety by Christians from the Maranatha Church.

On Thursday May 18, a Christian church and other Christian properties were torched in the Ahuru Karang Panjang area of Ambon.

According to agencies in Ambon, the majority of the casualties were shot by the security forces trying to disperse the rioters.

Sammy Waileruni, a lawyer with the Christian co-ordination post at Maranatha Protestant Church, saw hundreds of jihad warriors, armed with rifles and grenade launchers, attack Christian properties in the Mardika area on Wednesday May 17.(AFP) After a recent visit to the region CSW reported on the acute fear felt by locals of an escalation of violence and attempts to 'cleanse' many parts of the Mollucas of Christians as a result of the anticipated arrival of over 3000 jihad warriors. Sectarian violence has already claimed over 3000 lives, both Muslim and Christian, and hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced.

CSW's Advocacy Officer stated: "We are gravely concerned over this new wave of violence, which appears to be directly attributable to the presence of the so-called jihad warriors in the area.

We urge the Indonesian authorities to take immediate action to ensure known or suspected provocateurs are prevented from entering the region. Provocateurs already present in the region and found guilty of instigating or participating in the violence should be expelled immediately. In addition, the Indonesian government should give urgent consideration to inviting a human rights investigation team to the Moluccan Islands. Such a mission might consist of representatives of the European Parliament or, representatives of an impartial ASEAN nation such as Thailand."